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It paints a picture of us constantly reshaping our identities, but how much of that is truly up to us? I feel like our choices are shaped by things like family,

It paints a picture of us constantly reshaping our identities, but how much of that is truly up to us? I feel like our choices are shaped by things like family, upbringing, or biology, are we really free to evolve, or are we just rolling with a preset script?

lwo32k 1y ago
Even if there is a preset script its very hard to see it, given the variety of identities and different environments people get thrown into. Even people who are extremely similar can end up leading extremely different lives.
deleted 1y ago
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bluefirebrand 1y ago
Trust me, we are more free than it might seem Yes, for sure we are limited by our biology. Someone born crippled will never be an olympic body builder. Someone born stupid will never be a math researcher. And of course we have a lot of inputs like family, upbringing, schooling, culture, etc which all shape us However, humans are capable of being inputs into our own system as well. It is not easy, necessarily, but I do strongly believe that we are capable of shaping our own identities as a result of being able to be our own inputs. We can also choose to relocate, change friend groups, change careers, whatever else we need to do to change our external inputs as well Of course we are limited by physical reality and limited by things like money and opportunity, our intelligence and aptitude and such, but as long as we can find something within our capabilities, we can shape ourselves into it For example, I am nearly 40. I have ice skated my whole life but never used to play ice hockey. I'm never going to play in a pro league, I'm already too old even if I was phenomenal somehow. But it is well within my capability to join a beginner old timers league and play with people my skill level if I want to
- TheOtherHobbes 1y ago
  The thing about free will is that feeling you have free will is not a confirmation you actually have it. There are psychological tricks that can be used to manipulate people into acting in certain ways. They're not niche experimental techniques. They're widely used in PR, advertising, politics, and business. Virtually all of them create the illusion of free choice where none exists. Almost everyone can be convinced they made a free choice, when in fact they were influenced into it without their awareness. The irony is that the people who do this to others aren't any more free than their victims. Which ends up in an interesting place, where everyone feels free but most choices are forced. What really drives all of these "conscious" choices?

lwo32k 1y ago

Even if there is a preset script its very hard to see it, given the variety of identities and different environments people get thrown into. Even people who are extremely similar can end up leading extremely different lives.

deleted 1y ago

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bluefirebrand 1y ago

Trust me, we are more free than it might seem Yes, for sure we are limited by our biology. Someone born crippled will never be an olympic body builder. Someone born stupid will never be a math researcher. And of course we have a lot of inputs like family, upbringing, schooling, culture, etc which all shape us However, humans are capable of being inputs into our own system as well. It is not easy, necessarily, but I do strongly believe that we are capable of shaping our own identities as a result of being able to be our own inputs. We can also choose to relocate, change friend groups, change careers, whatever else we need to do to change our external inputs as well Of course we are limited by physical reality and limited by things like money and opportunity, our intelligence and aptitude and such, but as long as we can find something within our capabilities, we can shape ourselves into it For example, I am nearly 40. I have ice skated my whole life but never used to play ice hockey. I'm never going to play in a pro league, I'm already too old even if I was phenomenal somehow. But it is well within my capability to join a beginner old timers league and play with people my skill level if I want to

TheOtherHobbes 1y ago
The thing about free will is that feeling you have free will is not a confirmation you actually have it. There are psychological tricks that can be used to manipulate people into acting in certain ways. They're not niche experimental techniques. They're widely used in PR, advertising, politics, and business. Virtually all of them create the illusion of free choice where none exists. Almost everyone can be convinced they made a free choice, when in fact they were influenced into it without their awareness. The irony is that the people who do this to others aren't any more free than their victims. Which ends up in an interesting place, where everyone feels free but most choices are forced. What really drives all of these "conscious" choices?